RadioRoryOK, NOT the best start to the international part of this trip.
Arriving at LAX, I already knew my flight to Vancouver was being delayed 15-minutes. If only.
Sitting at the bar near my gate (oh, don’t look so surprised) I started chatting up the couple next to me. Two Canadians who were in L.A. to celebrate her 30th birthday continued to party all the way to Gate 68A.
She works at a downtown hotel and I was trying to get some advice about what to do during my whirlwind trip.
As the delay continued, the beers kept coming and he kept buying all of us rounds of whiskey.
Who am I to argue with this Canadian custom?
We finally board the plane about an hour late and the well-lubricated Canucks are upgraded to First Class on our small jet to Vancouver.
He starts jamming his carry-on into a full overhead bin and apparently gave the flight attendant a hug and went in for a kiss.
Now we’re off to the races.
The Delta pilot is having none of this and kicks him off the plane. The guy’s mortified 30-year-old girlfriend can’t slink to the jetway fast enough with the carry-on in tow.
We wait and the police come and take statements. Yeah, the guy was “interfering with a flight crew” but he wasn’t a danger to anybody and it’s only a two-and-a-half-hour flight.
We finally push back from the gate about 90-minutes late, just before 10. At 10:16, we’re back at the gate. The pilot says the plane didn’t pass pre-flight checks and they’re sending a team to fix it.
Add another half-hour and the pilot says we’re moving to a new plane, another Embraer 175 with REALLY small bathrooms.
During re-boarding, I notice actor DJ Qualls is on the plane and in my row. I had to IMDB him to figure out what he’s been in, but I remember him as a frequent guest on Craig Ferguson’s old Late Late Show.
I’ll skip the boring part and just say that the plane finally left at 12:30 a.m. and landed in Vancouver just before 3. Customs was glitchy but baggage claim was easy and the shuttle bus to the hotel was just a five-minute wait. Funny, the room has two queen beds but at check-in, I asked if a king was possible. She said “We have you booked into a two-bed deluxe room” so I didn’t argue. The “deluxe” room overlooks the dumpster. It’s fine. Very Hampton Inn, but the other side overlooks a nice marina.
Skies are clearing here in Vancouver….time to get outside and enjoy the views. It’s impressive!